A Must See Film: The Genius of Marian

03 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Caregivers, Early Onset, Face of Alzheimer's, Films, Fundraising, Helpful Resources, Inspiration, Ruminations, Smiles

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

alzheimers, dementia, early onset alzheimers, the genius of marian, younger onset alzheimers

Last week, we held a special 1-night only screening of The Genius of Marian here in Columbus.

This film is absolutely brilliant in both its simplicity and its layers of complexity. Banker White told his family’s story masterfully in this documentary that follows his spirited mother’s journey from shortly after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis through the ensuing years.

During the course of the movie, we see a decline that no doubt mirrors the decline many of us have witnessed in our own loved ones. In a particularly moving scene, Pam White struggles to put on her coat before finally giving up. Such a simple, yet impossible task. This is the face of Alzheimer’s.

Pam was just 61-years-old when she was diagnosed. A beautiful woman who had it all – the antithesis of the stereotypical person living with dementia. The Genius of Marian puts forth such a critical message: Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of the elderly. No. It’s striking youthful, vibrant individuals in the prime of life and something must be done to stop it.

If you’re interested in bringing The Genius of Marian to a theater in your town, visit http://www.tugg.com/titles/the-genius-of-marian for details. The process is easy and serves as a wonderful way to raise awareness while earning money for an Alzheimer’s organization of your choosing.

The film will also be shown on PBS in September (http://www.pbs.org/pov/geniusofmarian/), and the DVD, due out in November, is available for pre-order now (http://geniusofmarian.portmerch.com/stores/product.php?productid=19086&cat=0&page=1&featured).

Watching Pam’s journey will make you laugh and cry. This is a woman who never lost her indomitable spirit or sense of humor. Much like my own mother, a woman of great strength, and while Alzheimer’s does its best to steal everything from these women, they fight like hell, never completely losing the core of their being.

World Alzheimer’s Month: Free Streaming of Critically Acclaimed Documentary

23 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Events, Films, Mom, Smiles

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

alzheimers, dementia

If you haven’t watched this incredible documentary yet, you still have two days – streaming free through 9/25 –> http://video.pbs.org/video/2216780249/
I watched this evening, and I must say, there’s a lot of my mom in Lee… what a spunky, beautiful woman.

The Long and Winding Road...

In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Month, Independent Lens|PBS will offer free streaming of the documentary You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t from 9/15 through 9/25!

Told exclusively from the perspective of Lee Gorewitz, a woman living with Alzheimer’s, all of the filming took place in an Alzheimer’s care unit. The film originally aired on PBS’ Independent Lens series and has received rave reviews from the Alzheimer’s community as well as film critics far and wide.

This riveting film grabbed my attention immediately and held it through the final scene. When it ended I felt sad — not because of the subject matter but because I wanted to spend more time with this unique and endearing woman with whom I’d fallen in love. I missed her, so I turned around and watched the entire movie again.– Marie Marley, Huffington Post

I must say that…

View original post 217 more words

World Alzheimer’s Month: Free Streaming of Critically Acclaimed Documentary

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Behaviors, Films, Helpful Resources, Mom, Ruminations, World ALZ Month

≈ 4 Comments

In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Month, Independent Lens|PBS will offer free streaming of the documentary You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t from 9/15 through 9/25!

This riveting film grabbed my attention immediately and held it through the final scene. When it ended I felt sad — not because of the subject matter but because I wanted to spend more time with this unique and endearing woman with whom I’d fallen in love. I missed her, so I turned around and watched the entire movie again. – Marie Marley, Huffington Post

I must say that after reading just a bit about Mrs. Gorewitz, I am very anxious to see the documentary. Described as a charismatic, “exceptional and resilient soul… who often shakes a tail feather long after the music has stopped… and who will not let us forget her, even as she struggles to remember herself,” I can’t help but think how much that sounds like my mom!

The following synopsis was taken from the film’s website:

In Danville, California, Lee Gorewitz wanders on a soul-searching odyssey through her Alzheimer’s & Dementia care unit. Confined by the limits of her physical boundaries, she scavenges for reminders of her life in the outside world. Yet her search is for more than a word, or a memory, or a familiar face. It is a quest for understanding.

A total immersion into the fragmented day-to-day experience of mental illness, You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t is the first documentary filmed exclusively in an Alzheimer’s & Dementia care unit, and the first told from the perspective of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The film reveals Lee’s penetrating ruminations and charismatic vitality, challenging our preconceptions of illness and aging. Here is the journey of a woman who will not let us forget her – even as she struggles to remember herself.